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The cold, hard facts: Fulfilling a lifelong dream to own an ice cream parlor, Bernard Davis founded Dairy Dell in 1973. Now the quaint little walk-up parlor at 524 S. 26th St. with benches outside is owned and operated by Carolyn Day, who became Davis' partner shortly after the store opened.

“I learned the whole business top to bottom, turned it back over to him for about 10 years and took it back over myself beginning this year,” said Day, who is known affectionately to customers as “Ms. Carolyn.”

Biggest seller: It has to be cookies-and-cream, either cone or cup, but mostly cup. Day sells about 200 cups of it a week.

To top it all off: There are about 20 toppings in all, including chocolate, caramel, hot fudge, sprinkles, Reese's Pieces, Snickers, Butterfinger, and fresh-ground peanuts, pecans and walnuts. Crumbled dark chocolate cookies are the favorite, and Dairy Del uses a 5-pound bag a week.

Cold comfort: “I love the smile on a customer's face, especially when they see my pretty banana split,” Day said. “I had a couple get married because of my banana split. I fixed this lady one, and it was so beautiful that she started crying. I'm serious.

“And a guy in line started comforting her, and that's how they met. Less than a year's time, they got married.”

But it's the chocolate and vanilla ice cream on a waffle cone that draws Dayvon Cowherd, a freshman at Jefferson Technical and Community College.

“I've been coming here since I was a little boy about 8 years old,” he said.

“I try to come every time I'm in the area, at least once a week. I lived next door for about four years, and I'd come every day, multiple times a day.”